HC quashes pilots’ plea seeking less work hours

The Joint Action Committee of Airline Pilots’ Association of India had challenged the DGCA’s decision to put on hold the newly-framed Civil Aviation Rules (CAR) of 2007 and, instead, continue following the 1992 rules on issues related to their duty hours.

A Division Bench of Justices R M S Khandeparkar and Amjed Sayed held that there was “no substance in the grievance about undue strain” that pilots said 1992 rules caused nor was there any merit in the allegation that these rules led to exploitation of pilots. The judges observed that for past 15 years there were no complaints regarding the 1992 rules, in fact, Indian Pilots’ Guild, one of the petitioners, had filed petition against the 2007 rules.

As a result of the High Court decision, the Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 28 of 1992 will be in operation till a DGCA-appointed committee comes up with amended CAR.

“The records apparently disclose that the authorities concerned authority, after taking into consideration pros and cons, the safety of travelling passengers as well as interests of the pilots, giving due consideration to the representation made by petitioners decided to suspend the June 27 CAR and to avoid confusion and chaos, decided to revive the 1992 rules,” the 44-page judgment states.